Coffee tasted awful. Bagel took forever to receive. Coffee had to be tossed honestly it tastes like watered down concepts of coffee. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Iced coffee with mocha - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Awakening sandwich with arugula and the jalapeño bagel was perfect. Service was prompt and quick. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Iced coffee - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yuck. Coffee not great, bit sour, yet this chain is all over Boston. Nice location. Clean. Outdoor and 2 level indoor seating. Nice view of Harvard Square, centrally located (though good luck finding parking). read more

Food: Egg bagel sandwich was ok. I got one filled with egg and it was eh. Not the most filling. The chai was bomb though, so warm and nourishing! Service: Food was fast. Ambiance: There isn't a ton of seating inside... but if it's nice, there is seating outside. read more

they made a funny bagel in the display. very amusing. staff gave me recommendations and i enjoyed! can't go wrong with lox. my beloved. great pumpkin chai read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - the funny bagel - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The young man who took my order was flying around and talking so fast he rang me out before I I could even finish my order . I think he needs to switch to decaffeinated coffee! . Luckily there was a Tate close by with nice people . Never again will I Give pavement a dime ! read more

Eeeughhh...... I felt like they were pretty deceptive with pricing for the "Death Cream with Cold Foam...." charging a whole extra dollar for terrible "cold foam" that quite literally evaporated... it disappeared. I've had cold foam before, and like wtf?? And the coffee is nothing special. It tastes like something a toddler would throw together for fun. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Before the cold foam disappeared - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It was fine. It seems like they're everywhere around the city and they make wild shit. I was perfectly satisfied. I saw they have a giant syrup collection so the sky is the limit if that's your thing. read more

Quality at this location has been a consistent disappointment for a few months now. I keep trying, as the other locations are fine, but this one serves some of the worst coffee in Cambridge. On the upside, service is always friendly and the Smith Center is a pleasant place with restrooms. For coffee, I'm generally a drip or cold brew person who prefers it black. Hot or cold, the black coffee here is sour, bitter, and one-note every time. It's always strong, maybe too strong given the issues. I can see the Toddy system they use for cold brew, as I do at home, and am baffled at how they're getting a coffee this undrinkable. Perhaps their lattes are better? But if you're coming here for any kind of black coffee, steer elsewhere. Harvard has many other shops that can serve a better and more consistent brew. read more

Stopped here after a food tour for a bagel. I got the Beetdown sandwich which was so delicious! Ingredients were fresh and really went well together. The bagel was solid. It was about $10 after taxes. Would definitely come back here. read more

The whole ordering thing is a bit messy but alright. I got a vanilla latte and it wasn't the best one I've had but it was okay - an okay stop for coffee if you're in Cambridge looking for something to drink read more

I went for a walk down to Harvard Square for some exercise and decided to get an ice coffee. Pavement has a great location as part of the student center at Harvard. They have a huge lobby with plenty of seating. There is an outside area with tables if it is a nice day. Since it is across the street from Harvard, there is a constant flow of college student. Usually there are some chess games going on out in front where there are a couple of rows of tables with boards. They have trees so I am not sitting in the sun. I would return when I am in the neighborhood. read more

was not a fan of the everything bagel with veggie tofu cc, the bagel dough was pretty hard and dense and the cream cheese was bland read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - everything bagel with veggie tofu cc - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Pavement is a great place to grab coffee and a bagel if you are near the Smith Center. The iced coffee is good and all the bagels are tasty! On this visit, I ordered a rosemary sea salt bagel with diablo cream cheese. The bagel was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and the cream cheese had just the right amount of heat. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Iced coffee and rosemary sea salt bagel with diablo cream cheese - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is what you get when you pick a location in a student center. Especially Harvard, the kids here are probably used to their personal chef taking their order. Pavement is just a solid coffeehouse - drinks are good, pastries are reasonable and their bagels... The people are also just kind of nice. I'm not sure what it is, maybe they actually pay their employees, maybe all Harvard kids aren't so bad, but they usually seem pretty happy to be there. It's a nice touch compared to Tatte where everyone is mortally afflicted. Also - the student center is a bit weird but it's a nice spot to sit, especially the upper area by the windows. Pavement not my favorite cafe in the world, but I've been to this one more than I think any other cafe in the area. read more

The husband just brought back a surprise almond latte for me - holy smokes, sooo delicious!! I take it with only one shot, and hubby gets the extra shot for his espresso. The coffee is smooth, fresh and sweet without any extra sweetener. Well done!! Yummm.... read more

See all

This was my go to coffee/bagel place on campus. The presto pesto on a rosemary salt bagel? With an iced vanilla oat matcha? Yum yum yum. It is inside the smith center so it's not the most cozy atmosphere but it makes up for it with convenience. Also fair warning, it can take a long while to get your order especially during passing times, but if you order ahead on toast you're golden. This pavement will always have a special place in my heart and for that it gets 5 stars. read more

Came here for brunch on a Sunday morning and while the space was quite busy, we were lucky enough to grab a table to eat as another party was leaving. This Pavement is located in a Harvard building so the location is filled with college students and tourists so be warned when coming that it might be pretty packed, especially on a weekend! Ordering was quick and service was pretty polite/friendly; our sandwiches took a bit of time to come out, but that was likely because of the egg and sausage that came with the bagel I got. Nonetheless, things were well made and the food itself was pretty delicious. I will say that the chocolate in the croissant was really not distributed well though so it was empty in some areas and full of chocolate with other bites - not the greatest and it wasn't super fluffy either. Overall, I would say that this spot shines with their sandwiches and teas - the pastry left something to be desired unfortunately, but other than that I enjoyed my breakfast and would be willing to come back at some other point in the future! read more

I just got a medium cup of regular drip coffee. It was delicious smooth, well balanced flavor and tasted sweet. It exceeded my expectation. The service was quick and attentive. The cafe is very clean and it also has a very nice outdoor patio just across the Harvard campus. read more

Conveniently located in the middle of Harvard Square to grab a cup of coffee or bagel. Wait times can be long since Pavement is a popular choice for students. Love the Spanish latte - it's perfectly sweet and creamy!! read more

The coffee here is not bad. I think it has potential but isn't amazing. The espresso tasted a bit like it hadn't been dialed in a while but I did come in the afternoon so maybe that's why. It was still a little off because I could taste it was slightly off in an iced flavored latte. Coffee aside. The place is super cute and friendly. I like coming here because it's just bright and cute. read more

Very cute, conveniently located inside the Harvard student center. A SMALL, LATTE WITH ALMOND MILK IS $7.97 You read that correctly. I should have asked before ordering it. So yeah, if you order two of those in a day, prepare to take out an extra student loan. read more

Delicious local brewed iced coffee and absolutely stellar bagels. The bagels are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and so flavorful. The great outdoor seating area is a plus too! read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - BLT Bagel Sandwich on a sesame bagel - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Good coffee. Vegan banana muffin was excellent. It is 22 and this place does not have nonfat milk. That's kind of sad. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Beautiful day at Harvard - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Try making a Payment to Pavement. You will be having Payment issues which will mean you're having Pavement Issues. Pretty good coffee stand inside a larger building which offers pretty standard products including bagels and sandwiches and hot drinks and cold drinks. They're friendly and they're mid-price and I thought their products were pretty decent but I've only been here once. I'll try something different next time. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Should I get coffee here or shall I keep Chasing Pavements - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It's convenient since it's right in the Harvard student center, but neither the coffee or pastries are very good... gets the job done if you need a quick caffeine fix though. read more

Do not go here... We literally waited in line and when we went to order this gentleman put the closed sign up right at 5 o'clock after we wait in line for 5-10 minutes... And then when we said something about it, they giggled and talked crap after we walked away read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - The staff not wanting to wait on people! - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Not a bad spot for a quick bite to eat, the smith center is a pretty area so it's nice to eat there. The bagel sandwich took about 15 minutes and had too much egg so it sort of fell apart, but it was good! Coffee is quite pricy for a meh taste/quality, not really worth the price. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Sunrise on a multi-grain everything bagel - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Tried the whole grain everything bagel and it was just ok. Bagel itself was nice and chewy but lacked much flavor. It was super crowded on a Sunday afternoon and I had to wait nearly 20 for a single bagel which felt a bit long. The staff are nice and the price is fair for the area. read more

This spot was recommended to me by a local University of Boston student. We asked for his favorite coffee shop and Pavement was his answer. It was a cute coffee shop just a hop away from the university. It lived up to the hype in fact we liked it so much that when we saw another one in Harvard Square we jumped at the chance for their bagels and delicious hot apple cider. That cider was a savior when the temperature dropped and the snow started to fall. On both visits I had the everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox. My daughter did a straight everything with the same cream cheese. She did wish she got mine when trying my bagel on that second visit. We both had a vanilla lattes which was very good but the shining star for me was the cider and bagels. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Everything Bagel with scallion cream cheese and Lox. This picture doesn't do it justice. - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very unfriendly staff. They do not actually want to make the drinks. You are a burden to them. Overpriced average coffee drinks. Save the trouble and go to another cafe option nearby. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse falls between a 3 and 4 on the rating scale. On the downside, it leans towards the more expensive side, a common woe for those dealing with on-campus pricing. However, it earns a positive nod by staying open on Mondays, a rarity among cafes and breakfast sandwich spots. The breakfast sandwich, while satisfying, doesn't quite justify the price tag, and the coffee, particularly the macchiato, disappoints with a pronounced bitterness akin to burnt espresso. The cost of a coffee and sandwich combo can easily climb to $20 or more, considering tip and tax. Situated in a spacious campus center, it provides ample seating, but the high prices may leave patrons pondering their choices. (Also, @ future yelp visitors, I did see a guy get yelled at for taking a picture of the menu probably since the picture would also have the workers in it, but it didn't seem super friendly so just a heads up) read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Cortado w/ almond milk and breakfast sandwich with pepper jam - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nice coffeehouse. It's in a student center so there's lots of seating and it's close to campus. Drinks are a little pricey but it's a solid choice for coffee. read more

Pretty solid pavement---the space itself is in the Harvard Smith student center, so the atmosphere isn' the vibiest (if you will). However, its certainly a convenient location. The coffee itself is pretty good, I am a big fan of the seasonal cinnamon fig latte, although it is on the sweeter side which is sometimes not ideal. The service is on the slower side as well. read more

Okayish coffee. It's in the Smith Center, but not in a particularly well appointed area, so the seating is plentiful but drab. They make a good bagel with cream cheese, and I usually get it with veggies as well for $4.75. The iced coffee I had today wasn't so good - kind of bitter. read more

Pavement is a good description of the coffee's taste. I used to buy pavement coffee before big tests because the taste was so acidic it would really wake me up and kick me into gear--for an enjoyable cup of joe I would recommend going elsewhere. That said, the food options are not bad. I actually quite like their bagels, though now that Black Sheep Bagel exists nearby pavement has lost some appeal. Pavement coffee is inside the Smith center, the largest administrative building for Harvard. There is comfortable indoor and outdoor seating available right there and it is just across the street from beautiful Harvard yard, so it's a good spot to get coffee and have a nice seat. read more

I was so excited to see they had vegan baked goods. Little did I know it was going to be a mistake to actually buy & try to eat it. It had to be the driest banana muffin I have even tasted. I was so disappointed. Do us all a favor & make sure your vegan items are worth it,or if they're old, make something else w/ it. Since you are giving vegan baked good a bad name w/ what you're putting out & that is not the case for other places that do way better. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse is a solid 3.5 stars in my book. I'm not a big fan of the coffee, which was quite acidic the couple of times I've ordered it (as an oat latte, and also as iced coffee with soy milk), but the bagels are nice if you're looking for a filling and quick breakfast near Harvard square. My typical order is the Vegan Tequila on a sesame bagel, and I alternate between ordering it as is, or swapping the vegan diablo spread with vegan veggie spread (I have a pretty weak spice tolerance, but the diablo spread isn't too spicy- it mainly depends on what I'm feeling). The actual bagels are solid and I have no real complaints, and the tempeh is a great addition that I appreciate them offering. I've also tried the vegan banana muffin, which was really nice and not overly sweet. In the future, I'd probably grab coffee from Blue Bottle down the street, and then come down to Pavement for a bagel or muffin! read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Vegan tequila - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Located in Harvard's Smith Campus Center, right in the heart of Harvard Square, this simple coffee house serves both students and the community. The coffee and hot chocolate are good, the service is comparable to Starbucks', and the location can't be beat, with both indoor and outdoor seating. It's not fancy, but it's all you need for a quick jolt of caffeine on the go, or as a place to sit and work on a project at a table with your laptop. read more

I got the large iced matcha and the spicy tempeh on an everything bagel. The bagel was good and the spice level was just right. The tempeh was a little dry, but still tasty. The matcha was extremely underwhelming. Despite being a liquid beverage, it somehow tasted... dry? Definitely not worth the $6 I dropped on it. I'd get the bagel again, but will be steering clear of the matcha. The outdoor seating area gives you a nice view of Harvard -- nice for people watching or sitting and reading. Service was speedy and the workers seemed friendly. Overall, is it overpriced for what you get? 100% -- but at this point, so is everything else in the Square. In any case, I'll probably come back here at some point, although I'm not exactly hungry for more Pavement. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Cafes Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all